Cell/mobile phone is part of PPE

Tom Dunlap · May 11, 2007

This story came from a woodworking forum that I follow. He is very aware of his bad decision of using the ladder. He should also be commended for wearing a harness and 'strappy thing'. No need to beat him up any more. He was able to initiate a rescue by having his phone. Anyone who has a phone should carry it with them at all times. Think of it as PPE.
*****

I've been cutting down some trees in my backyard. The work has been going well until today. I have an oak tree that is leaning a little toward my storage building. I wanted to cut out some of the limbs on the building side before I dropped the tree. A friend loaned me a two-piece climbing tree stand. I used the stand to climb the tree today, cutting limbs off as I went up. Everything was going fine until I cut a limb about 35' up. The limb hit the lower section of the stand and knocked it loose. Fortunately, I was wearing a safety strap and the top part of the stand held. I got scrapped up when I grabbed onto the tree for dear life. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the lower part of the stand to grip the tree again. Worse, there is a cable television station whose owner monitors fire and rescue calls in the town where I live. I knew that if I called 911 the camera crew would arrive along with the rescue crew and my idiotic self would be on t.v. So there I was standing on the top part of my tree stand at least thirty feet in the air. Luckily, I had my cell phone with me. I called a friend at work for help. After being put on hold for ten minutes, he answered. He and another friend arrived. One guy held my 24' extension ladder against the tree while the other one climbed to to very top. He was able to reattach the stand to the tree, and push it up where I could stand on it. I finally made my way down. Please don't comment on all the things I did wrong. Believe me, I know. I'm glad I was wearing a safety strap, ( I wish it had been a full harness though. The strappie thing I used just about squeesed my guts out). I'm especially glad I had my cell phone. Needless to say, I won't be using the tree stand again.

Rookieclimber · May 12, 2007

I make well use of the diddy bag... cell phone, spare biner, pulley, and hitch cord are always with me. Ya, its a little more weight added on, but on my 200 lb. frame it doesnt amount to much.

Cyrus1254 · May 12, 2007

Cell phones are a must with our crews !!! In the past 4 years we have had 3 accidents and the phones helped and the cost is minimal to the office to have them as phones !!!!!

TreeCo · May 12, 2007

I always carry my cell phone when I'm trimming at 35' in a deer stand.

A cell phone does not fit the definition of PPE, IMO. Ditto for a vehicle to transport the injured.

Tom_Scheller · May 12, 2007

I tape the address of the job we're at to the side of the truck.

TS

Peter McS · May 13, 2007

nice idea Tom, I leave the job sheet with the r/a on the drivers seat. Same approach

blue · May 13, 2007

i remember when this idea came out in the UK.was a good idea (came from a paramedic) but beware as there has been alot of cases of when a lost phone is found or nicked and someone finds it funny to phone the ICE number and pretend to be from the emergency services and tell a loved one that you are dead,i kid you not!!!

Jamin_Mayer · May 13, 2007

[ QUOTE ]
I tape the address of the job we're at to the side of the truck.

TS

[/ QUOTE ]

That is a great idea! The other day I was thinking about that issue.

The issue is: What if you get hurt in the tree and the owner is not home? What if your groundie has a cell phone, but doesn't even know what the address is? Sure he/she could find out, but that may take too many minutes to do.

I like that idea!

Toparboring · May 13, 2007

At uor shop we high light where we are on the job wall, and leave the address facing out in a see through pouch on the trucks side. During break and lunch we check in to tell staus with cells.

treebing · May 16, 2007

In January, I posted an accident involving my father. He was working out on his timber frame house alone when he fell smashing 12 ribs a few back bones, and collapsing a lung. He landed on the side oppisite his cell phone and so it was spared, he did not hit his head or lose conciousness. He called 911 and they came within 15 minutes. There is no doubt that he would have died with out it as the temperature was barely above freezing. He Is making an awesome recovery right now.

easyphloem · May 17, 2007

Really glad to hear that, Kevin. When are you coming back down to the Carolinas again?

SZ

Treelimbjim · May 17, 2007

The cell phone is essential.

When I burned my hands on a weekend rec climb in a tree at Woodruff Park in 2006 (TxTCC 2007 Work Climb tree, to be exact), the first thing my daughters asked was if they should call. They ended up tailing on another rope for me to get to the ground.

My instructions to them, in case of a recreational emergency is to contact one of the local tree services-- since I figure we ought to know aerial rescue and can access a location faster. And then call 911 to inform them of the emergency and what has been done.

Kman · May 19, 2007

I carry my cell phone all the time,however,here in Vermont there aren't to many places that we get a signal.Looks like the 2 way radios are getting put back online as they do work over here.